Not only did the first European sea trader, Vasco da Gama set foot in St. Helena Bay some 500 years ago, but there is also fossilized evidence that one of the earliest of men, the ‘Saldanha Man,’ lived here 117.000 years back. At the shores of the Langebaan Lagoon an impression in an ancient stone of a small humanoid foot has been found. If you might believe archeologists the first inhabitants in this region were the first people on the planet, or visit the West Coast Fossil Park, the most prolific source of late tertiary vertebrate fossils in the world. This is one of Africa's finest heritage sites and refers to a time when buffalo ran around with massive 3 meter horns and saber tooth cats stalked their prey. You will even find the mega teeth from fossilized monster size sharks! The Bushmen also left their fascinating rock carvings and paintings in several places along the West Coast, rocky outcrops.

Do you like to experience the biggest and longest ocean going carriers in the world? Then you have to book a boat trip to Saldanha Bay’s ore harbour where you find giants with a length of up to 330 meters.

Is shopping your penchant? Vredenburg only 25 kilometre away is the commercial hub of the West Coast with shopping centres, private hospitals and the other amenities you may require.

Looking for isolated fishing villages? Visit Velddrif with its lively fishing harbour, traditional fisherman’s cottages with the unmistakeable ‘bokoms’ (dried fish), its picturesque river mouth and salt marshes inhabited by stunning flamingos, or take a drive to Paternoster with stunning beaches and a relaxed atmosphere of a typical rural West Coast fishing community.